Donation means more Grants playing fields

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The city may get more playing fields. A request to approve a donation from Frank Sipan to the city perplexed the Planning Commission Tuesday.

“I don’t know why this is here,” commission member Cecil Brown commented. Commissioners said that a donation should not need their approval, but approved it anyway. The land in question is 30 acres off Sakelares Boulevard, behind the existing baseball fields at Wells Park.

The donated parcel is being considered for playing fields in the sports complex underdevelopment at the park.

A Mr. Sandoval entered a request to build his carport in the 300 block of Nimitz Drive to the edge of his property. Sandoval said he has a letter from the adjacent neighbor granting permission to build to the boundary. Commissioners determined that Sandoval’s project presented questions of variance and possible fire access difficulties, and that more information was needed.

In order to help Sandoval complete his project quickly, Chavez recommend that the project stop right now and Sandoval start the permit process. The commission will hold a special meeting in two-weeks to reconsider the request, allowing the permit process to go before the city council for final approval at the next regular council meeting.

The commission approved a request from Guy Brown to replat two lots into one on Green Ash Court, pending a letter of approval from the Los Alamitos Heights Home Owners Association. One lot is the back yard of a home on the other lot.

Only three of the five board members were in attendance Tuesday. In attendance were Commissioners Jamie Holton, Brown and Ralph Chavez. Among the missing was recent Code Enforcement Officer and planning and zoning office supervisor John Phillips.

Phillips, who according to City Manager Robert Horacek, turned in his resignation two weeks ago, served his last day Friday. The former enforcer could not be reached for comment, but code office clerk Veronica McDermott said Phillips left to follow up on projects he has out of the country.

The city once again has no code enforcer or planning and zoning supervisor. McDermott will hold down the office and handle code business until a new code enforcer can be hired.

The next scheduled meeting is a special session at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 23 to reconsider Sandoval’s request. The commission sits regularly the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.